Create An Optical Illusion Photo Effect

Create An Optical Illusion Photo Effect


In this Photoshop Effects tutorial, you will learn how to create an intriguing optical illusion that combines one main photo with numerous smaller images. The technique involves filling a larger photo with many repeated smaller pictures, allowing for a unique visual experience. You can choose how many smaller images to include, giving you control over the final appearance.

When viewed from a distance, your audience will see the prominent photo, while a closer look reveals the array of smaller images hidden within. This effect can be particularly impactful, as it draws viewers in for a closer inspection.

Originally inspired by a job recruitment poster for a popular restaurant chain, this technique is versatile. It works beautifully with personal snapshots, such as family gatherings, weddings, or fun moments with friends.

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

You might also like

20 Photoshop and Camera Raw Features from the September 2026 Update

The September 2026 update to Photoshop and Camera Raw packs in a wide range of additions — from autofocus point display and a new glow effect to generative expand on raw files and color wheel grading inside masks. Some of these features arrived quietly and may have slipped by unnoticed. Watch...

How to Apply an Exact Hex Color to Any Object in Photoshop

Matching an object's color to a specific hex code is harder than it looks. Real surfaces carry highlights, shadows, and texture — meaning no single pixel represents the true color. The solution is to average the surface first, then use either Hue/Saturation or Curves to bring that average...

Photoshop 2026: 5 New Features Worth Adding to Your Workflow

Photoshop 2026 arrives with a set of updates that genuinely change how certain editing tasks get done. The Light adjustment layer alone could replace a step many photographers have been routing through Camera Raw for years — and that's just the start. Watch the Video Practical Tips Here are...

How to Apply a Cinematic Color Grade in Photoshop or Lightroom

Separating a subject from its background through selective toning is one of the most effective ways to give a photo a cinematic feel. This walkthrough covers a full color grading workflow using Camera Raw masks, radial gradients, and the color mixer to create warm subject tones against a cooler, darker...

You’ve successfully subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap
Welcome back! You’ve successfully signed in.
Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Success! Your email is updated.
Your link has expired
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.